II.1) DESCRIPTIONII.1.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority UK-London: External AuditII.1.2) Service Category 9.II.1.2.1) Main place of performance NationwideNUTS CodeII.1.3) The notice involves A public contractII.1.4) Information on framework agreement (if appropriate)NumberOR, if applicable, maximum number of participants to the framework agreement envisagedII.1.4.1) Duration of the framework agreement (if appropriate)Period in year(s)OR month(s)Justification for a framework agreement the duration of which exceeds four yearsII.1.4.2) Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement (give figures only)Estimated value excluding VATOR range: betweenandCurrencyFrequency and value of the contracts to be awarded (if possible)II.1.5) Short Description of the contract or purchase(s) Accounting and auditing services. Statutory audit services. The UK Comptroller and Auditor General, through the National Audit Office (NAO), is responsible for the financial audit of UK Government Departments, their executive agencies, a wide range of other central government public bodies including government owned companies and a number of international organisations. The NAO is seeking to appoint firms able to deliver, or contribute towards the delivery of, these audit services which will be undertaken for and on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The services to be provided include external audit services, related consultancy, provision of staff support and advice and training. The NAO has eight major client groups (Lots) and in 2007 put in place strategic partnership arrangements covering six of these groups (Lots 1-6). The NAO now intends to let contracts for the remaining 2 of these major client groups and appoint 2 firms to each group (Lots 7 and 8). The contract will commence with work to support the audits of the 2009-10 accounts and terminate with the 2012-13 accounts. The NAO expects to adopt a strategic partnership approach to these contracts, and with successful firms. This will include firms undertaking complete audits on the NAO's behalf, combined delivery teams and senior led-relationship management arrangements. All values shown below are approximate value for the total contract duration and may increase or decrease at any time during the procurement or contract delivery period. Individual firms may only bid for 1 contract per client group.Accounting and auditing services.Statutory audit services.Statutory audit services.Statutory audit services.II.1.6) Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)Main Object: 79210000. Additional Object: 79212300. II.1.7) Contract covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)? YesII.1.8) Division into lots YesIf yes, tenders should be submitted for one or more lotsLot NoANNEX B - INFORMATION ABOUT LOTSLOT No. 1Title: UK-London: Extrenal Audit1) Short Description: The UK Comptroller and Auditor General, through the National Audit Office (NAO), is responsible for the financial audit of UK Government Departments, their executive agencies and a wide range of other central government public bodies including government owned companies and a number of international organisations. The NAO is seeking to appoint firms for the provision of external audit services, to be undertaken for and on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General, related consultancy, joint working, provision of staffing support and advice and training. The NAO has eight major client groups (Lots) and in 2007 put in place strategic partnership arrangements covering six of these groups. The NAO now intends to let contracts for the remaining 2 of these major client groups and appoint 2 firms to each group. The NAO expects to adopt a strategic partnership approach to these contracts, and with successful firms. This will include firms undertaking complete audits on the NAO's behalf, combined delivery teams and senior led-relationship management arrangements and include external audit services and statutory audit services. The contracts will commence with work to support the audits of the 2009-10 accounts and terminate with the 2012-13 accounts. All values shown below are approximate value for the total contract duration and may increase or decrease at any time during the procurement or contract delivery period. Individual firms may only bid for 1 contract per client group2) Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV): Main Object: 79210000. Additional Object: 79212300. 3) Quantity or Scope: Group 7 - The clients in this group are: the Ministry of Defence and related bodies, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and related bodies and the Department for International Development and related bodies. The appointed contractor is likely to have demonstrated;
For at least one of the contracts in this group, experience in the delivery of IT audits of Oracle systems including system, application and installation reviews; and,
an ability to cover locations throughout the UK.
Only UK nationals will be eligible to work on this Lot and the appointed contractor must have suitable staff who are prepared to be security cleared. Bidders should note that the process to obtain clearance can be protracted
Experience and expertise in the audit of grant payments
Knowledge and expertise in European Commission grant regimes
ability to cover locations throughout the UK
If known, estimated cost (excluding VAT): 4700000OR range: between and Currency: GBP4) Indication about different date for duration of contracts or starting/completion date (if applicable)Period in months: 48 or days: OR Starting/ delivery5) Additional Information About lots:

ANNEX B - INFORMATION ABOUT LOTSLOT No. 2Title: UK-London: External Audit1) Short Description: Short Description The UK Comptroller and Auditor General, through the National Audit Office (NAO), is responsible for the financial audit of UK Government Departments, their executive agencies and a wide range of other central government public bodies including government owned companies and a number of international organisations. The NAO is seeking to appoint firms for the provision of external audit services, to be undertaken for and on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General, related consultancy, joint working, provision of staffing support and advice and training. The NAO has eight major client groups (Lots) and in 2007 put in place strategic partnership arrangements covering six of these groups. The NAO now intends to let contracts for the remaining 2 of these major client groups and appoint 2 firms to each group. The NAO expects to adopt a strategic partnership approach to these contracts, and with successful firms. This will include firms undertaking complete audits on the NAO's behalf, combined delivery teams and senior led-relationship management arrangements and include external audit services and statutory audit services. The contracts will commence with work to support the audits of the 2009-10 accounts and terminate with the 2012-13 accounts. All values shown below are approximate value for the total contract duration and may increase or decrease at any time during the procurement or contract delivery period. Individual firms may only bid for 1 contract per client group.Accounting and auditing services.Statutory audit services.2) Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV): Main Object: 79210000. Additional Object: 79212300. 3) Quantity or Scope: Group 8 - The Client in this Group is: Department of Health and related bodies; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and related bodies. These clients are managed from the NAO's Newcastle office. The appointed contractor is likely to have demonstrated:
Experience and expertise in the audit of grant payments
Knowledge and expertise in European Commission grant regimes
ability to cover locations throughout the UK
If known, estimated cost (excluding VAT): 5200000OR range: between and Currency: GBP4) Indication about different date for duration of contracts or starting/completion date (if applicable)Period in months: 48 or days: OR Starting/ delivery5) Additional Information About lots:

II 1.9) Variants will be accepted NoII.2) QUANTITY OR SCOPE OF THE CONTRACTII.2.1) Total quantity or scope (including all lots and options, if applicable) The NAO intends to award 2 contracts per Client Group, based on a proportion of the total value of that Group for duration of the contract. The scope of work required will be determined annually, with the NAO reserving the right to require additional services depending on performance. The duration of each contract will be an initial period of 4 years with the NAO reserving the right to extend for 2 further periods of 1 year each.If known, estimated value excluding VAT (give figures only)OR range: between 10000000and 15000000Currency GBPII.2.2) Options (if applicable) YesIf yes, description of these options The duration of each contract will be a maximum of 6 years comprising an initial 4 year period with the NAO having the right to extend for 2 further 1 year periods. Each contract will be for 4 years with 2 x 1 year option to extend.If known, provisional timetable for recourse to these options: Period in month(s)or day(s)Number of possible renewals (if any):or Range: betweenandIf known, in the case of renewable contracts, estimated time-frame for subsequent contracts: in month(s)and/or days (from the award of the contract)II.3) DURATION OF THE CONTRACT OR TIME PERIOD FOR COMPLETIONEither: Period in months 48And / or daysOr: StartingAnd/or ending

SECTION III: LEGAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

III.1) CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE CONTRACTIII.1.1) Deposits and guarantees required (if applicable)III.1.2) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions regulating themIII.1.3) Legal form to be taken by the grouping of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded (if applicable)III.1.4) Other particular conditions to which performance of the contract is subject (if applicable)If yes, description of particular conditionsIII.2) CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONIII.2.1) Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registersAny supplier may be disqualified who:

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are metIII.2.2) Economic and financial capacityInformation and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met (If applicable)Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable)III.2.3) Technical capacityInformation and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met (If applicable)Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable)III.2.4) Reserved Contracts (if applicable)III.3) CONDITIONS SPECIFIC TO SERVICES CONTRACTSIII.3.1) Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession YesIf yes, reference of the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision Accountancy and AuditIII.3.2) Legal entities should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service

SECTION IV: PROCEDURE

IV.1) TYPE OF PROCEDURE Restricted procedure.
IV.1.2) Limitations on the number of operators that will be invited to tender or to participate (when applicable)Envisaged number of operatorsOr Envisaged minimum number 5and, if appropriate, maximum number 12Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:IV.2) AWARD CRITERIAIV.2.1) Award criteria (please tick the relevant box(es)) B) The most economically advantageous tender in terms of: B2) the criteria as stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document.IV.2.2) An electronic auction will be used NoIf yes, additional information about electronic auction (if appropriate)IV.3) ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATIONIV.3.1 File reference number attributed by the contracting entity (if applicable)IV.3.2) Previous publication concerning the same contract NoIf yes:IV.3.2.1) Notice number in OJ:OfIV.3.2.2) Other previous publicationsNotice number in OJ:OfIV.3.3) Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents (except for a DPS)Time-limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents 22/01/2009Time: 17:00Payable documents NoIf yes, Price (give figures only):CurrencyTerms and method of paymentIV.3.4) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participateDate 23/01/2009Time 12:00IV.3.5) Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates 30/01/2009IV.3.6) Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up EnglishOther - third countryIV.3.8) Conditions for opening tendersIV.3.8.1) Date, time and placeDateTimePlace (if applicable)IV.3.8.2) Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders (if applicable) YesIf yes, authorised persons Head of Procurement. Procurement Manager

SECTION VI: COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

VI.1) THIS IS A RECURRENT PROCUREMENT (if applicable) NoIf yes, estimated timing for further notices to be published:VI.2) CONTRACT(S) RELATED TO A PROJECT AND / OR PROGRAMME FINANCED BY EU FUNDS NoIf yes, reference to project(s) and / or programme(s)VI.3) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (if applicable) GO reference: GO 08121917/01VI.4) PROCEDURES FOR APPEALVI.4.1) Body responsible for appeal proceduresBody responsible for mediation procedures (if applicable)VI.4.2) Lodging of appeals (please fill heading VI.4.2 OR if need be, heading VI.4.3)Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals:VI.4.3) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtainedVI.5) DATE OF DISPATCH OF THIS NOTICE 19/12/2008